2018 MAC Football Power Rankings Week Six: Northern Illinois Surging, Taking Control of MAC West
The Huskies remind us every year that they are not to be overlooked. Kent State is sinking fast while Western Michigan and Ohio are relying on offense to get the job done.
Free on Saturday’s Week Six Power Rankings
1. Buffalo Bulls
Last Week’s Rank: 1
Week Five Result: Lost vs Army 42–13
It appears that Buffalo is the best team in the MAC so far this year, and yeah, that still holds even after the debacle against Army last week. Buffalo had no fewer than 12 drives in each of its previous four games before taking the field against Army. It would get just nine opportunities on Saturday and averaged a paltry 4.64 yards per play. On the four drives where Buffalo crossed the Army 40, they averaged just 3.5 points. In other words (h/t Brandon Fitzsimons), Buffalo got “Army’d”
2. Toledo Rockets
Last Week’s Rank: 2
Week Five Result: Lost at Fresno State 49–17
If there’s a theme this MAC season it’s that outside of conference play none of these teams are all that good. Hence Toledo clocking in at number two after being dominated in all three phases by Fresno State. The Bulldogs are a fantastic team, and even if Mitchell Guadagni had not left the game with injury they likely would have continued to dominate the Rockets. Toledo gets Bowling Green this week and will be looking to reassert itself as the MAC’s top dog.
3. Akron Zips
Last Week’s Rank: 4
Week Five Result: Bye Week
The Zips climb a spot because *someone* had to go lose to NIU at home by three in triple overtime. We still don’t know much about the Zips this season beyond the fact they can beat Northwestern and play close with Iowa State. It will be fun to see Kato Nelson try his luck against a Miami defense stinging from a one-point loss to WMU a week ago.
4. Northern Illinois Huskies
Last Week’s Rank: 8
Week Five Result: Won at Eastern Michigan 26–23
Look, the offense isn’t good and probably won’t even get better, but NIU doesn’t care. The Huskies are 2–0 and picked up a huge win in Ypsilanti on Saturday in triple overtime. 3.67 yards per play, like the Huskies put up on Saturday, isn’t going to cut it for most teams, but this isn’t most teams. Sutton Smith is still a god, racking up 10.5 tackles for loss already this season, and that should terrify anyone with an offensive line not up to the task. Actually, it should terrify everyone.
5. Western Michigan Broncos
Last Week’s Rank: 4
Week Five Result: Won at Miami 40–39
The Broncos have the opposite problem as NIU. Western Michigan’s defense doesn’t appear ready to stop anyone except Georgia State this season, giving up huge chunks of yards to even struggling offenses like Miami. But also like NIU, the other side of the ball is playing so well the folks in Kalamazoo figure it might not matter. Jon Wassink is having a fantastic season so far, completing 62.9 percent of his passes for 1,423 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air.
6. Ohio Bobcats
Last Week’s Rank: 7
Week Five Result: Won vs UMass 58–42
It figured to be a shootout when the Minutemen and Bobcats took the field in week five and both teams delivered soundly, scoring 100 points between themselves. The Bobcats got the best of the MAC’s former member and look like they’re making a similar wager as Western Michigan, which is who cares if the defense never comes around, we can score one million points.
7. Eastern Michigan Eagles
Last Week’s Rank: 3
Week Five Result: Lost vs Northern Illinois 26–23
Sigh. What are we going to do with you, Eastern? The Eagles continue to lose one-score games like someone told them that’s the new formula for selecting playoff teams. EMU probably deserved to lose to NIU in the first place, considering the Huskies dictated most of the play, but the Eagles had their chances and squandered them. It’s looking like another year where Chris Creighton’s team will be left wondering what could have been.
8. Ball State Cardinals
Last Week’s Rank: 9
Week Five Result: Won vs Kent State 52–24
Make no mistake about it, the Cardinals needed a statement win against a Kent State team some (raises hand) considered to be on the rise. Riley Neal and the Ball State offense lit up the flashes for 52 points and reminded everyone that the Kent State rebuild still has a ways to go, and that the Cardinals are building something of their own down in Muncie.
9. Miami RedHawks
Last Week’s Rank: 9
Week Five Result: Lost vs Western Michigan 40–39
Another heart breaking lost for Miami at home. The RedHawks’ usually reliable defense was not quite as reliable as normal against the high-powered WMU attack, and despite a two-score lead at the half Gus Ragland and company came up short against the Broncos. Miami was the beneficiary of two straight turnovers in the second quarter that it turned into 10 points, but needed just a bit more to get to 2–0 in MAC play. Chuck Martin’s team heads to Akron, which is coming off of a bye week, in week six.
10. Central Michigan Chippewas
Last Week’s Rank: 11
Week Five Result: Lost at Michigan State 31–20
Don’t let this score fool you. Central Michigan was handled in East Lansing for three quarters before the Spartans let off the gas. However, all four quarters count and it was good to see Jon Bonamego still has a team that fights for four quarters. The Chippewas are good enough on defense they will probably scare a team or two in the MAC and maybe even steal a couple wins.
11. Kent State Golden Flashes
Last Week’s Rank: 6
Week Five Result: Lost at Ball State 52–24
Kent State got off to a surprising start to the year with a close loss at Illinois, a few good quarters against Penn State and a strong showing at Ole Miss. Turns out it was all fools gold. The Flashes now appear to be the team many expected to see this year at least as far as the record goes, but the existence of an actually functioning offense is a welcome development in Kent.
12. Bowling Green Falcons
Last Week’s Rank: 12
Week Five Result: Lost at Georgia Tech 63–17
The one thing Bowling Green was supposed to be good at in 2018 was offense, particularly throwing the football. With the talented Andrew Clair in the backfield things weren’t supposed to be all that bad on the ground either. Clair is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, and quarterback Jaret Doege is completing a high percentage of his passes at a brutal 5.1 yards per attempt. The offense has failed to launch and the defense is still poor with no signs of improving. It might be time to start looking ahead to basketball/hockey season in Bowling Green.
